Sajjan Kumar was convicted and sentenced to life term for the 'remainder of his life' for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case by the Delhi High Court.
Congress leader Sajjan Kumar who has been sentenced to life-time imprisonment for his role in the 1984-anti Sikh riots has written to Congress President Rahul Gandhi submitting his resignation from the party, sources told PTI.
In his letter, he wrote: "I tender my resignation with immediate effect from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress in the wake of the judgment of the hon'be high court of Delhi against me".
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Earlier on Monday, Sajjan Kumar was convicted and sentenced to life term for the 'remainder of his life' for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case by the Delhi High Court. In its verdict, the court said that the riots were a "crime against humanity" perpetrated by those who enjoyed "political patronage".
The high court said though it was "undeniable" that it took over three decades to punish the accused in the case, it was important to assure the victims that despite the challenges faced by the court, "truth will prevail and justice will be done".
The case pertains to killing of five Sikhs in Raj Nagar part-I area in Palam Colony in South West Delhi on November 1-2, 1984 and burning down of a Gurudwara in Raj Nagar part II.
The high court directed Kumar and other five convicts to surrender by December 31, 2018 and not to leave the city of Delhi.
Six accused, including Sajjan Kumar, who was a Member of Parliament at that time, were sent for trial in 2010 and three years later, the lower court had convicted five of the accused but acquitted the Congress leader of all the charges.
Meanwhile, Advocate Anil Sharma who represented Sajjan Kumar in the court said that he will move an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court verdict.
